Watery espresso (puck?)

I have a five year old Classic that has served me well but recently has been leaking from the group head, producing watery espresso with little or no crema and very recently when heating the milk it sounds like pebbles are being shot into the milk - the milk is heated but no froth produced.

Any suggestion as to cause of problem(s) and appropriate repairs would be appreciated.

Also, advice on a reputable service agent in the ACT/Southern NSW area would be appreciated.

Solution offered by 'expert' does not provide any detail..... "seal wore out" - which seal or seals might be worn out?; are these serviceable by me or is this a service agent job? etc. If service agent attention is required recommended can you advise of such in the ACT region?

More definitive advice would be good - assistance requested. As advised in original request I have a Gaggia Classic (5 yrs old)Solution offered by 'expert' does not provide any detail..... "seal wore out" - which seal or seals might be worn out?; are these serviceable by me or is this a service agent job? etc. If service agent attention is required recommended can you advise of such in the ACT region?
More definitive advice would be good - assistance requested. As advised in original request I have a Gaggia Classic (5 yrs old)

1 Suggested Answer

Hi,
A 6ya expert can help you resolve that issue over the phone in a minute or two.
Best thing about this new service is that you are never placed on hold and get to talk to real repairmen in the US.
The service is completely free and covers almost anything you can think of (from cars to computers, handyman, and even drones).click here to download the app (for users in the US for now) and get all the help you need. Good luck!

Tell us some more! Your answer needs to include more details to help people.You can't post answers that contain an email address.Please enter a valid email address.The email address entered is already associated to an account.Login to postPlease use English characters only.

Have you clean the brew unit with the cleaning tablets? This dissolves and rids the brew unit of the oils which in turn build up and clog the brew unit - the result being watery pucks and less product being disbursed.

First, I'm NOT a Saeco technician, But I have worked on similar machines. It's odd that you had to clean the screen of the machine though I'm not sure it this is a recommended procedure as these home "super automatic" are a ROBOT espresso maker. Yes on large espresso machines the group screen is easily removed for daily or at minimal weekly cleaning. There is a screw in the center which is easily removed and screen is brushed till clear of grounds.
* I'm surprised that you can access this screen. But since you have already done so then I guessing you disassembled the piston
assembly (the part that squeezes the grounds to form the puck.
* Okay, The group usually has a number of gaskets (or O-rings)
and I can see from the "Gasket Set" https://www.bing.com/shop?q=+Saeco+Vienna+Plus&FORM=SHOPPA&originIGUID=202322DD03D24C3DBC248AAE69EBE4D6
There are quite a few gaskets. Now since these are available on line I'm guessing they have been made available to those willing to replace them. So maybe your okay.
* I suspect one or more of the gaskets are not sitting just right to make a proper seal. It's either broken or not in place. Thus the group leaks and water is probably leaking past the piston and leaks on puck after it dumps.
* There is another possible problem (watery pucks) is that the piston is not compressing the coffee into a proper puck. It needs to squeeze the grounds down to restrict and slow down the hot water giving it enough time to extract the coffee essence from the grounds. If your getting weak coffee and watery, loose pucks then it's the piston. This could be caused by a misplaced compression spring or that loose gasket getting in the way.
* I would normally suggest you calling for service. But Since you have already taken this unit apart (and I Don't know about the warranty) You may have to carefully work your way backwards on what you did to see if anything is missing or loose. Go all the way back to where you think was the end and look around. Put it all back together and try again.
* Okay NOW I remember this machine! It's on youtube BUT I'm cringing as I watch it! Really don't like this machine (Sorry) I had 15 come into the shop and only got 3 to work. Way too many sensors and safeties. I still got an old one in the garage that worked for a month then stopped for no reason. Okay here is the link Good luck!
Aloha, ukeboy57

I would remove the filter grille from the group head (Philips screw) and then clean the surface behind that sufficient that you can see and then unscrew the 2x Allen head bolts holding the aluminium puck in place. The puck will be frozen in place even after bolt removal but easily broken away by levering it with a large screwdriver. You can lever against the bracket that carries the group handle. Once you have the puck out scrape it clean and buff it up with a wire brush and clean out the 4 holes through the puck where the water is supposed to pass through on its way to the coffee. Check if the group seal has gone hard and replace it while the puck is out if it has. When done reassemble it. Blockage of those 4 holes is a very common cause of zero flow. It's doubtful the solenoids will be faulty but not impossible. It is possible that a solenoid coil has gone open though, testing and comparing with a meter or just swap the coffee and steam coils over will prove/disprove that one.

Correct, inside the grouphead their is a gasket which is the same diameter as the filterholter which make the perfect fit so the presure of the water will not leak out. So now either the gasket is damage in one point so you have the leak from that point. Second the gasket have become hard so it can not make perfect fit with filter holder. In both above case you have to replace the gasket. Finally their is aposibility that the gasket is dirty with coffee remains and again we can not have a perfect fit. You can use a hard brash with the water running so you can clean the gasket.
With this case you can unsrew also the shower from the grouphead and clean it also for better coffe results

Hi
There are 2 problems that can cause a watery puck.
1. Like EsWorld said, If the grinds is too coarse it leaves room for more water and you get a watery puck.
2. But if your grind is like a grain of salt, the you don't have enough coffee going into the brew unit, and this leaves room for extra water. To fix this, there is a lever on the top center of the door. The lever will increase the dose if pushed towards the back. DON'T push the lever to the full back position. This could cause an over charge, which could cause the brew unit to dump the ground coffee with out making because it could not compress the charge, or it could break the brew drive. 1 click back from the full plus is fine and will give a great shot.